Sewing machine



G. SAUER SEWING MACHINE Nov. 4, 1947.

Filed Aug'. 24, 1943 5 Sheets-sheaf l INVENTOR. GEORG E SH UER HT'TORNEY,

Nov. 4, "1947. G. SAUER I SEWING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F Y R s Y MW M m m. N 1.5 H A M z i 3 B .Q

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5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 24, 1943 HTTORNEY Nov; 4, 1947. A R 2,430,369

SEWING MACHINE INVENTOR. GEORGE 5/74/67? BY I HTTORNQEY 5 sheet 5 sAu SEWING MACHINE I Filed Aug. 24, 5

INVENTOR.

GEORGE 57705? BY v Patented Nov. 4, 1947 SEWING MACHINE George Sauer, Berwyn, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application August 24, 1943, Serial No. 499,789

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly to the association or combination therewith of various devices or instrumentalities for insuring proper and adequate lubrication of all relatively moving surfaces subject to wear.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide a lubrication system capable of insuring thorough lubrication of all parts requiring it without, however, producing unnecessary pumping of the oil or subjecting it to excessive woikng. Heretofore, in providing either full or semi-automatic lubrication of the parts of a sewing machine, it has been proposed to provide a pump which is arranged to be driven by some operating part of the machine and is adapted, throughout operation of the machine, to draw oil from a low point and discharge it at a higher point within the machine. Constructions of this character subject the oil to greater working, and serve to shift the oil from one point to the other more rapidly, than is required for the adequate lubrication of the machine. Accordingly, a very substantial portion of the oil lifted from the lower reservoir to the upper must be returned by overflow means to the lower reservoir or must be discharged over certain working parts of the machine at a more rapid rate than required. This results in deterioration of the oil more quickly than when unnecessary and excessive working of the oil is avoided.

Another object of the invention, in line with the foregoing, has been to provide an effective arrangement for pumping the oil only periodically, and not continuously during the operation of the machine. For this purpose it has been found most satisfactory to bring about a pumping action, for the purpose of elevating the oil from certain w points within the machine to a point or points from which it may be readily distributed, only at the commencement of each operation of the machine and preferably as an incident to each stitching operation. In the ordinary use of a sewing machine, it will be found that the starting and stopping of the machine occurs with sufficient frequency to insure the adequate delivery of the lubricant to the distributing reservoir or reservoirs for thorough lubrication of all of the working parts of the machine, even though the pump employed for the purpose is operated only momentarily upon each operation of the machine.

In connection with the foregoing objects, it has been a specific feature of the present invention to provide an arrangement by which the oil is pumped from a plurality of separate sumps at relatively low points and is delivered to a com- 3 Claims. (Cl. 112256) mon reservoir, or a series of interconnected reservoirs, from which it may be readily distributed over the bearing surfaces. The arrangement is such, moreover, that if the oil becomes exhausted in one sump, this will not interfere with the proper pumping of the oil from another sump and will not prevent thorough lubrication of all of the desired parts. Toward this end there is provided, in accordance with the preferred form of the invention, a double-acting pump which is operated upon each starting of the machine and is adapted to draw oil from one sump on operation of the pump piston in one direction and to draw oil from another sump upon operation of the piston in the opposite direction. The oil so withdrawn from the several sumps is appropriately delivered to a suitable distributing point or points. Oil drawn from one sump, as the piston is moved in a given direction, is forced by the piston to the distributing point as the piston is moved in the opposite direction and draws oil from another sump.

Another specific feature of the invention is the provision of improved means for distributing the oil which has been pumped in the manner indicated. This means is of such a character as to insure prompt or continuous and adequate, but not excessive, lubrication of all of the important bearing surfaces within the machine throughout its operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from a detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a front elevation of the illustrative sewing machine, portions of the frame being broken away to disclose the interior construction and a cover plate being removed for the same purpose.

Fig. II is a rear elevation of the machine, certain parts being broken away for clearness of illustration.

Fig. III is a top plan view of the machine, certain cover plates and other parts being removed and certain parts being broken away, or shown in section, to illustrate the construction more clearly.

Fig. IV is an enlarged view partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, showing the needle head portion of the machine and the arrangement of certain of the parts associated therewith.

Fig. V is an enlarged detail view showing in end elevation a portion of the work supporting arm of the machine,

Fig. VI is a vertical section along the line VIVI of Fig. V.

Fig. VII is a longitudinal, sectional view through the improved double-acting pumping means.

Fig. VIII is a perspective view of a complete assembly embodying the invention, including a supporting table with a sewing machine thereon, a driving motor and clutch unit beneath the table-top, and suitable control devices; and

Fig. IX is a detail view, in vertical section, showing a portion of the end of the work supporting arm.

For purposes of illustration, the inventionhas been shown applied to a feed-off-the-arm machine of the type disclosed in the Christensen et a1. Patent No. 1,741,095, dated December 24, 1929. Reference may be had to said prior patent for a fuller disclosure of certain features of construction and operation of the machine not herein set forth in detail. Reference may also be had, for this purpose, to the Christensen application Ser. No. 465,947, filed November 18, 1942, now matured into Patent No. 2,372,175, dated March 27, 1945.

Referring now to the drawings, the improved combination comprises a supporting structure including a table-top I (Fig. VIII) on which is mounted a sewing machine designated generally at l l. The sewing machine comprises a frame l2 which may suitably be of the form and construction set forth in said Christensen et al. patent. It may include a downwardly extending hollow portion I20. from which a work supporting arm l2b projects. through a combined hand-wheel and pulley 13 secured to a main drive shaft I4 extending longitudinally of the upper portion of the frame. (Figs. III and VIII.) The power so delivered may be derived from any suitable source, such as an electric transmitter comprising a motor l5 and an associated clutch l 6, which may be of any known construction as, for example, the general type illustrated in the application of Harold J. Le Vesconte and Albert M. Schweda, Ser. No. 449,196, filed June 30, 1942, now matured into Patent No. 2,390,220, dated December 4, 1945. A belt I! serves to connect the driven member of the clutch with the pulley [3. It will be understood that when the machine is in use, the motor will be in constant operation but the sewing machine will be driven only upon the engagement of the clutch, this being effected under control of an arm I 8 adapted to be drawn downwardly by a link l9 connected with a rock arm carried by a rock shaft 2|. Another arm 22, secured to this rock shaft, may be connected by a link or rod 23 with a foot treadle 24. Rocking of the foot treadle by the foot of the operator will thus bring about operation of the sewing machine whenever desired.

Ihe shaft I 4' may suitably be formed in several sections and it is journaled in appropriate bearing sleeves 25, 26 and 21 (Fig. I) and 28 (Fig. III) all carried by the frame. The two main sections of the shaft are connected by a coupling I la. Collars 29 and 3!], secured to the main sections of the shaft at opposite sides of the coupling, serve to take up the thrust in both directions by cooperating with suitable surfaces on the frame. A lubricant collecting chamber 3! is formed at the. top of the frame around the coupling Ma and the collars 29 and 30. Intermediate the bearings and 28 (Fig. III), within a chamber 32 in the top of the frame, the shaft I 4 is provided with a crank portion 33 extending between counterweights 33a formed integral with or otherwise Power is supplied to the machine secured to the adjacent portions of the shaft. A pitman 34 cooperating with the crank 33 is pivotally connected at its opposite end by a pin 35 (Fig. IV) with the downwardly extending arm of a bell crank lever 36 rockably mounted upon the frame by means of a shaft 31. This shaft is journaled in bushings 38 and 39 carried by the needle head portion of the frame. The outer end of the forwardly extending arm of the bell crank is connected by a link 40 through a pivot M with a block 42 secured to a needle bar 43. This needle bar is mounted for vertical reciprocation in the needle head in a well known manner. Also, mounted for vertical reciprocation in the needle head is a presser bar 45 carrying at its lower end a presser foot 46 of any suitable form. The presser bar is urged downwardly by means of a spring arrangement 41 of known construction. For the purpose of lifting the presser foot against the action of the spring, a block 38 is secured to the presser bar and this is adapted to be engaged by a finger 49 secured to a rock shaft 50. An arm 5| also secured to the rock shaft is connected by a link 52 with an upward extension of a lever 53 secured to a rock shaft 54 mounted upon a portion of the frame. The free end of the lever 53 is connected by a chain 55 with a foot treadle or any other convenient control member operable at will by the operator of the machine.

Adjacent the inner end of the shaft Hi there is secured an eccentric 56 which cooperates with the strap portion of a pitman 56a (Fig, I). At its lower end (not shown) this pitman is connected in a suitable manner with a feed bar 5? (Fig. IX) which carries a feed dog 53. The mechanism just described serves to impart the rising and falling movements to the feed dog, which is of the four motion type. For a full disclosure of suitable connections for this purpose reference may be had to the patent to Kucera No. 2,199,666, granted May 7, 1940. A second eccentric 59 carried by the shaft I4 cooperates with the strap portion of a pitman or link 59a, which through suitable connections, of the type disclosed in said Kucera patent, serves to impart the feed stroke and return movements to the feed dog. This mechanism also serves to impart the desired needle avoid movements to the loopers, hereinafter mentioned. The end of the shaft It carries a crank pin 63 cooperating with a pitman or linkage 6 l the lower end of which is connected with an arm 62 secured to a rock shaft 63. This shaft carries one or more loopers 64 (Fig. IX) which cooperate in stitch formation with the needles 44.

Coming now to the improved lubrication system, the heart of this is a double-acting, reciprocating pump 65 suitably mounted, by means of screws or the like, upon a portion of the frame l2 of the machine. The pump has a plurality of inlets one of which is connected by a pipe or a tube 66 with a main sump 61 (Fig. II) provided in the downwardly extending hollow portion Ilia of the frame. The other inlet of the pump is connected by a pipe or tube 68 with a smaller sump 69 provided at the rear of the needle head portion of the frame (Fig. IV). The lower ends of the tubes 66 and 58 are preferably provided with suitable strainers or filters 10 and II, respectively, to insure the circulation of only clean oil. The outlet of the pump is connected by a tube 12 with a discharge dome 13 preferably formed of glass or other transparent material. The arrangement is such that the operator of the machine may at any time observe the character of the oil being pumped and may determine whether or not the system is functioning properly. The dome I3 is .positioned directly above a reservoir 14 secured by screws 15 to the under side of a cover plate 16 which is, in turn, secured to the mid-section of the top of the machine frame by a series of screws 11.

Referring now particularly to Fig. VII, the pump comprises a cylinder or chamber 18 in which a piston 19, formed by opposed cup-shaped washers, is mounted .for reciprocation. This piston is carried at the inner end of a rod 88 having its outer end connected by a link 81 with the elbow ofan L shaped lever 82 which is pivotally connected at 83 with the frame of the machine. The arm 84 of this lever projects beyond the pulley I3 and has its outer end connected by a chain 85'(Fig VIII) or other suitable means with the arm 22 which is rocked, as previously indicated, in response to movements of the treadle 24. The arrangement is such that when the pedal is depressed to cause engagement of the driving clutch, the lever '82 will be rocked in a clock-wise direction (Fig. II). This results in shifting of the rod 88 and the piston 19 toward the left (Figs. II and VII) against the action of a spring 88. The latter is compressed between an enlarged head at the end of the rod 88 and a combined bushing and stufiing box 81 which is threaded into and closes one end of the cylinder 18 and provides a substantially oil-tight sliding fit with the rod 8!]. i

As the piston 19 is shifted toward the left (Fig. VII) oil will be drawn through the tube 68, from the sump 69, past a ball valve 88 and delivered through a duct 89'into the right hand end of the cylinder. At the same time, oil which has previously been drawn'into the cylinder at the left side of the piston will be forced by the latter through a duct 90 past a ball valve 9| and through apassage 92- into the discharge tube 12. When the treadle is rocked in the opposite direction, or is permitted to move in this direction by the action of thespring 86, the piston 18 will be shifter toward the right and will serve to draw oil through the tube 66, from the sump 61, past a ball valve Stand through the duct 98 into the left hand portion of the cylinder 18. Simultaneously, the oil previously drawn into the right hand end of the cylinder will be discharged through the duct 89 past a ball valve 94 into the tube 12. Thus, it will be seen that oil is drawn alternately from the two sumps 61 and 69 upon the movement of the piston 19 in opposite directions. The pump will operate through only a single cycle upon each starting and stopping of the machine; i. e., upon each stitching operation. It is not operated continuously during the stitching operation and therefore, does not produce excessive working of the oil. Yet sufficient oil is pumped to insure adequate lubrication of all of the parts requiring it. Furthermore, it will be clear that if one of the sumps should become dry or substantially so, this will not interfere with the pumping of the oil from the other sump. At the same time, dropping of the level of the oil in one ofthe sumps, to such a point that the withdrawal of oil therefrom ceases or is seriously decreased, may be quickly noted by the operator because of the fact that then little or no oil will be discharged into the dome 13 at either the commencement or conclusion of a stitching operation, depending upon which of the sumps happens to be substantially empty.

A feature of the invention is the simplicity of 6 the .pump structure and its reliability in operation. In addition to the features already described, it should be noted that the pump cylinder 18 is closed at one end by a removable screw plug 95 which simplifies manufacture and facilitates cleaning and inspection of the working parts. The pair of ball valves 91 and 94, associated with the outlet is mounted in a single recess in the pump block, this recess being par tially closed by means of a hollow screw plug 96 in which the ball 94 is seated. A single spring 9'! urges the two ball valves against their respective seats; Ball valve 88 is carried by a fitting having a tapered nipple 58 in screw-threaded engagement with a recess in the pump block. The inner end'of the nipple is partially closed by a hollow plug 99 against which bears one end of a spring lflflacting at its opposite end to urge the valve 88 against its seat. In a similar manner the valve 93 is mounted within the nipple extension of a fitting I01 which is partially closed by a hollow plug H12 against which a spring I83 bears in urging the valve against its seat. Each of the tubes 66, 68 and I2 is preferably provided near its end with an enlargement in the form of a double frusto-conical compression sleeve I84 adapted to be clamped between an appropriate seat on a coupling member I85 and a corresponding seat formed on one of the inlets or the outlet of the pump.

The oil which is withdrawn from both. sumps and discharged into the reservoir 14, in the manner set forth,-is in part delivered through a tube Hi6 (Fig. I) to an auxiliary reservoir E81 pro vided above the bearing 21 at the top of the downwardly extending portion [2a of the frame. A portion of the oil so delivered to the auxiliary reservoir passes through an opening 138 in its bottom into a chamber filled with packing or wicking I89 and which communicates with the interior of the bearing bushing 21 to lubricate the latter. A wick filled tube I 58 serves to deliver another portion of the lubricant from theauxi'liary reservoir to a point just above the crank pin til and thus effectively lubricates the latter.

Similar wick filled tubes IH deliver some of the oil to points above the eccentrics operating the links 58a and 59a, thus lubricating these parts.

A wick filled tube H 2, projecting through a Wall of the main reservoir l4, serves to deliver oil to packing H3 within a small chamber located above the bearing sleeve 26 and which is in communication with the interior of the latter to lubricate the same. the packing H3 which separates this chamber from chamber 3| is somewhat lower than the other walls, thereby causing discharge of any surplus oil into chamber 3| and away from the looper thread take-up shown at the opposite side. Another wick filled tube H4 delivers oil from reservoir M to packing H5 in a small chamber above, and communicating with, the bearing sleeve 25, thereby serving to lubricate this hearing of the shaft M. From the small chamber containing the packing H5 a further wick filled tube l l 5 extends forwardly and downwardly and serves to deliver lubricant to a longitudinal groove or recess in an extension of the sleeve 25 from which it is delivered to a collector integral with the righthand counterweight 33a of the crank. Such oil is then delivered by the aid of centrifugal force, into and through an axial passage H8 and a radial passage 8a in the crank pin to the cooperating surfaces of the pitman 34. A portion of the oil may also be delivered to a longitudinally That wall of the chamber containing extending duct II 9 within the pitman. In this way oil is supplied to the bearing surfaces of the pivotal connection 35 between the pitman and the lever 36. The pivotal support of the latter is supplied with oil from the reservoir 14 through another wick-filled tube I20 which delivers the oil to groove I'ZI extending longitudinally of the shaft 3'1. Still another wick-filled tube I22 conveys a part of the lubricant from the reservoir '14 to an opening I23 in a retainer I 24 for the bearing sleeve 28 which supports the shaft I4 adjacent its outer end. The bearing sleeve is provided with an opening (not shown) alined with the opening I23 and may also be provided with suitable distributing grooves. In this way the outer bearing of the shaft is adequately lubricated. To prevent the escape of oil at the outer end of the bearing 28, the pulley is preferably formed with an annular oil slinging rib I25, fitting within a recess I24a in the outer end of the retainer I24. rib I25 and recess IZGU. have slightlyspaced, frusto-conical surfaces, as shown in Fig. III. Oil thrown off by the rib I25 will collect in the recess I2 la and will be drained into the sump 69 through a drain hole (not shown) extending downwardly and inwardly through the retainer I24. It will be apparent that excess lubricant from other portions of the mechanism in the needle head will also be delivered to the sump 69, a duct I25a being provided to assist in this purpose.

An overflow tube 126 is preferably inserted through the bottom of the reservoir 16 to discharge excess lubricant into the chamber 3| from which it is returned through a passage I21 to the sump 61'. The upper end of the overflow tube I26 is preferably somewhat above the tube H36 so that it will discharge only such excess oil as is beyond the capacity of the tube I66. Any excess delivered to the auxiliary reservoir I"! may be discharged from the latter through the opening above the tube I06 and will be returned directly to the sump 67.

Oil may be introduced into the sump 61 whenever necessary through an opening normally closed by a screw I28 (Fig. I). The level of the oil in this sump may be constantly indicated through a transparent disc or window I29 mounted in a plate I38 secured to the end of the work arm. Transverse grooves I3I formed in the inner face of the transparent disc may serve to disclose the proper upper and lower limits for the lubricant within the sump. Fresh lubricant may be introduced into the sump 69 through a cup I32 mounted at the top of the needle head.

It will be apparent that by the arrangement shown all of the parts of a sewing machine requiring lubrication may be efiectively lubricated with a minimum of working and circulation of the oil. Thus, the oil utilized for the lubrication of parts in and adjacent the needle head will be circulated through a relatively short path between the sump in the needle head and the reservoir I4. Similarly, the oil serving to lubricate those parts of the machine in the depending arm IZ'a will be circulated merely between the sump at the bottom of this arm and the reservoir 74.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail in the foregoing, it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the general principles and scope The 1 of the invention. Thus, whereas it is specially suited for use in connection with a feed-oiT-thearm machine of the type illustrated, certain features, at least, are applicable to other types of machines and machines mounted on other forms of supporting structure.

I claim:

1. In combination a sewing machine, a motor and clutch unit connected with said machine for driving the same, means operable at will for controlling the engagement and disengagement of the clutch to effect successive operations of the machine, a lubricant reservoir in said machine, means connected with said reservoir for delivering lubricant to parts to be lubricated, a plurality of lubricant collecting sumps in said machine arranged to receive lubricant from said parts, and a single reciprocating pump operated by said first named means for withdrawing lubricant from one of said sumps upon engagement of the clutch and delivering said lubricant to said reservoir, and for withdrawing lubricant from another of said sumps upon disengagement of the clutch and delivering said lubricant to said reservoir.

2. In combination a sewing machine having stitch forming instrumentalities adapted to form a seam, means operable once at will an in-- cident to each seam forming operation, and lubricant circulating and distributing means comprising a plurality of oil collecting sumps in said machine arranged to collect oil from parts lubricated within the machine, a pump having va reciprocating piston, connections from said first mentioned means for reciprocating the piston of said pump, said pump being arranged to withdraw oil from one of said sumps upon movement of said piston in one direction and to withdraw oil from another of said sumps upon movement of the piston in the opposite direction, and means for delivering the oil so withdrawn to the parts to be lubricated, said delivering means including means for retaining some of the oil for delivery over a period of time.

3. In combination a sewing machine having stitch forming instrumentalities adapted to form a seam, means operable once at will as an incident to each seam forming operation, and lubricant circulating and distributing means comprising a plurality of oil collecting sumps in said machine, pump means comprising a reciprocating piston operated by said first named means and arranged to withdraw oil alternately from said sumps, and means for delivering the oil so withdrawn to the parts to be lubricated, said last mentioned means including means for retaining some of the oil for delivery over a period of time and having a single device constantly visible to the operator for disclosing the efiectiveness of said pump means in withdrawing oil from each of said sumps.

GEORGE SAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,311,604 Zeier Feb. 16, 1943 1,937,019 Hamill Nov. 28, 1933 1,943,102 Woodruff Jan. 9, 1934 1,969,927 Hacklander Aug. 14, 1934 1,734,292 Gonzalez Nov. 5, 1929 

